First and Second Timothy Commentary: Who Will Wear This Crown?

By Dr. Derrick Holyfield

After reading the first and second books of Timothy in the Bible, people invariably have many questions. Can a woman serve in the church? Is it permissible for a pastor, deacon, or elder to drink wine? Are certain foods permitted?

Based on extensive research and study, First and Second Timothy Commentary answers all those questions and more. Dr. Derrick Holyfield breaks down the meaning of each verse into simple, easy-to-understand language, definitively showing how Pauls letters still pertain to Christians today.

Dr. Holyfield provides a brief summary of each chapter and then digs deep into the text to share Pauls wisdom. He coaches his commentary within the historical context of society during Paul and Timothys time. From how Christians need to stand firm in the word of God and the difference between law and grace to the various qualifications for church leaders, Dr. Holyfield delivers a timely interpretation of this important Scripture.

Ideal for family Bible studies, Sunday school teachers, pastors, and everyone in between, First and Second Timothy Commentary will challenge, inspire, and renew your faith.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Sep 21, 2011
• ISBN: 9781462053568

Dr. Derrick Holyfield

The Author Derrick Holyfield has been married to Vivian B. Holyfield for over 9 years. He has been preaching and teaching for 20 years. He is also the author of First and Second Timothy Commentary, Who Will Wear The Crown? He has a Doctorate in Theology from Open Bible College. In his spare time he loves to read, travel, and go fishing.

Book preview

Contents

Dedication

Special Thanks

Introduction

SUMMARY

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

SUMMARY

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chart 1

Chart 2

Chart 3

Dedication

This project is dedicated to so many people that have been a blessing to me in my life. Those who prayed for me in the completion of this book.

To mention a few, first my wife Vivian of 9 years and son Romel for allowing me to mess up the dining room table with my research material and giving me some time apart to work on this project. To Romel for helping me spell words that I thought was right. I thank God for allowing my wife to be there from the beginning to the end. This very scripture comes to mind when I think of her Proverbs 18:22—whosoever findeth a wife findeth a good thing and obtaineth favor of the Lord.

To my mother Ola Mae for teaching me how to pray and rely on the Lord from my youth up, when I think of her I think about 1 Timothy 1:5 which says—when I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and they mother Eunice.

To Dr. Abraham Longmire, his family and church family who helped me get started in the ministry. Without his help I wouldn’t have successfully pastored my first church. I didn’t know how to pastor a church I only had the book knowledge, he reminded me even though I had six years of Bible college pastoring requires more common sense something I found to be true. So thanks to him and the Abraham Baptist Church Millbrook, Alabama. Thank you Dr. A. Longmire, he being dead yet speaketh (Hebrew 11:4)

To Dr. Walter Crosby who was my instructor at Open Bible College For all the essays he encouraged me to write and for the many many memory verses I had to keep in memory from the very first day I started school until the end. May God Bless you.

Special Thanks

A special thanks again to my wife Vivian for typing and encouraging me to write and stay focus on this project.

To Pastor Curtis Cook who has been there for me down through the years. Special thanks to him for the advice on this project which was really a great help to me. Thank you for being a friend even when our baby went to be with the Lord you and your wife Valerie were the first at the hospital to give me and my wife encouragement and support. May the Lord God bless you and your wife continually. Special thanks also to my brother-in-law Deacon Terence Anderson for reading and commenting on this book.

Introduction

A few years ago some of my bible study students that were hungry for the word of God, suggested to me to take all the notes that were being recorded and put them into a book and with much thought, prayer and labor this is what we came up with. A commentary on 1 and 2 Timothy. It is not written in any kind of technical fashion so lay leaders and local church organizations could easily follow these subjects verse by verse. I truly believe that the reader will find a blessing in this book.

How many times have you sat in a congregation or when you got home and asked yourself I wish the subject had been explained a little more in detailed, furthermore there are a lot of questions about the modern day church you may not have had a chance to ask your Pastor, Sunday school teacher, or one of the elders in the church, in this commentary we will answer them for you. Here are just a few questions below:

*   Is it okay for women to wear pants in the church?

*   Do a woman suppose to led in the church? Can she lead on the job?

*   Are we suppose to eat certain foods according to the law or grace?

*   Is it permissible for a pastor, deacon or elder to drink wine?

*   If a bishop is divorced can he still pastor and be in the will God.

*   Can a bishop be a mayor or hold a public office and still be in the will of God?

*   How can you avoid youthful lust?

These and many more questions will be answered and the reader will gain great wealth of knowledge.

SUMMARY

1 Timothy

This epistle is written for mature pastors, novice preachers and lay people. It was written in Macedonia 65 A.D. between Paul’s 1st and 2nd imprisonment. The key points I like to mention about Timothy.

*   Timothy even though he was young was raised in a Jewish tradition. His father was a Gentile. He was raised from infancy by his mother and grandmother. 2 Timothy 1:5.

*   There was a 7 year period between 1st and 2nd Timothy between the writing of the epistles. At that time he was not circumcised.

*   Even though he was a novice Paul was writing to inform him how he was to rule older presbyteries, some who was lifted up in pride also rulers of rival sects was present.

First I would like to say thank you to the reader of this commentary. A few helpful tips about this epistle. The verses are written out, and in most cases there will be a scripture or two to support that particular verse which will be explained in detail. For years that’s the way most people have learned Right Division by comparing scripture with scripture.

Chapter One

Paul is our pattern &

Timothy is called to rebuke legalism

1 Timothy 1:1

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope.

Paul is the author of this book. Every book that Paul wrote has his name on it. (II Thessalonians 3:17)

3:17 The salutation of Paul with mine own hand, which is the token in every epistle: so I write.

Paul authored 13 books Romans through Philemon. All start out with his name—Paul. Note that neither Acts nor Hebrew begins with Paul’s name. He was also an apostle and in order to be called an apostle you had to meet certain qualifications. One qualification was you had to have seen the Lord.( I Corinthians 9:1, I Corinthians 15:8, II Corinthians 12:2-4)

9:1 Am I not an apostle? Am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord?

15:8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.

12:2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell: or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.

12:3 And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)

12:4 How that he was caught up into paradise and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

(No modern day man has seen Jesus). Therefore Paul was an apostle by the commandments God called him. (Acts 9:15-16)

9:15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:

Please don’t be confused Jesus, Lord, Holy Spirit are the same, Paul seen Jesus I Corinthians 9:1

9:1 Am I not an apostle: Am I not free: have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord: are not ye my work in the Lord?

I strongly believe in three—the Father, Son, Holy Spirit, three in one. (Genesis 11:7)

11:7 Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.

Jesus Christ my savior (means ruler—he rule my life). The one who is our hope that saved us—those who have trusted him as their Lord and Saviour confessing with their mouth the Lord Jesus and believed God raised Jesus from the dead thou shalt be saved. Another scripture to give more hope is 1 Thessalonians 4:13

4:13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

Saved people do not feel sorrow as far as where they are going when they die because they believe in Jesus Christ. Unsaved have no hope because they do not believe. In my studies of social psychology I studied a series on substance abuse, there in the session concerning Alcoholic Anonymous, they believed in a higher power. Higher power with them does not always mean the Lord who is our higher power. Our hope (saved) and their hope (unsaved) is different.

1 Timothy 1:2

Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.

Paul wrote to Timothy around A.D. 65 from Macedonia or somewhere nearby. Timothy was a young man being raised by his mother and grandmother in Jewish tradition. The bible does not say much about his father other than he was a Greek (Gentile). Timothy was from a mixed background, his mother and grandmother did a good service by teaching him the word of God. I don’t know whether they knew he was going to be used by God in a mighty way. Today we need more young and aged women to follow the pattern after Timothy mother and grandmother. In 1 Timothy 1:2, Paul stated that Timothy was his son in the faith (my own son, not fleshly but spiritual). This question is often asked how do we become brothers and sisters in the Lord? Under the law, fleshly blood line and blood type comes from the father. (Matthew 12:46-50, Romans 9:3)

12:46 While he yet talked to the people, behold his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him.

12:47 Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee.

12:48 But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? And who is my brethren?

12:49 And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!

12:50 For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.

Under Grace we become brothers and sisters spiritual wise. Grace, by the way is found in the books that Paul wrote which is from Romans-Philemon. To become brothers and sisters under grace is after you do and believe according to ( Romans 10:9, Ephesians 2:11-16, 19)

10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Jesus from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

2:11 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;

2:12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

2:13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

2:14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;

2:15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandment contained in ordinances: for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;

2:16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:

2:19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God.

My friends this is how we become brothers and sisters in Christ by the blood of Christ that was shed for remissions of sins. Now let us get back to verse 2—own son in the faith means word of God (living Grace) Whenever a man is going to stand firm on God’s word he needs grace, mercy, and peace because of what he will suffer for instance, people not wanting to socialize with you because you stand up for the Bible.

1 Timothy 1:3

As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightiest charge some that they teach no other doctrine.

This verse is why I believe Paul wrote the first letter to Timothy in Macedonia 65 A.D. He was asking Timothy to stay in Ephesus to carry on the needful work of the Lord there, while he (Paul) traveled to Macedonia. Paul